Canonization Date of John XXIII, John Paul II to Be Announced Sept. 30

Pope Francis to Confirm Date at Conclusion of Consistory

In a presentation on Saint Giovanni Battista Piamarta held in Rimini, Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, confirmed that Consistory that will announce the date of Canonization for John XXIII and John Paul II will be held on September 30th.

In an interview with Vatican Radio, Cardinal Amato reiterated the Holy Father’s words during his press conference held on his return flight from World Youth Day in Rio.

“On the airplane, the Holy Father, who was returning from Brazil, already announced that their Canonizations will not be imminent - in these last months of 2013 - but in 2014,” the Cardinal said.

“A precise date will be announced by the Holy Father on September 30th, when the Consistory presided by him will be held. In that moment, the Holy Father will give the official date, that only he knows.”

The Prefect for the Congregation for the Causes of Saints went on to say that John XXII was “the great prophet and creator of the Council”, while John Paul II is regarded as “the one who put it into practice and developed it.”

Cardinal Amato regarded them as two pillars not only of Christian culture but of Christian holiness as well.